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$40.00 $24.00 |
Bird decoys, which were first fashioned by Native American hunter-artists at least 1,500 years ago, are the only major folk art form to originate in North America. Today, decoys made during the heyday of decoy carving--roughly from 1840 to 1950--rank among the most avidly sought of all folk art collectibles, with some rare and outstanding examples fetching upwards of $8000,000 apiece at auction. These humble hunting tools, intended to deceive wildfowl by luring them into shooters' range, are now appreciated on many levels: as compelling works of sculpture, as exacting portraits of living and extinct species, and as irreplaceable historical objects. Successful decoy carvers of the past knew their prey intimately--spending countless hours observing game birds in the wild and then bringing their accumulated knowledge of different species' appearance and behavior to the carving bench. Because the works these artisans created were meant to attract avian eyes--conveying the essence of a bird's plumage, form, and attitude at a glance--older handmade decoys are deeply observed symbols of living birds that no merely decorative object, no matter how photographically accurate, can match. In this definitive, lavishly illustrated work, folk-art expert Robert Shaw chronicles the now-vanished era in which the great decoy makers pursued their craft. Shaw traces the natural history of North American bird species--more than sixty of which are represented in antique decoys. He relates the history of wildfowl hunting on this continent, detailing the excesses of nineteenth-century commercial hunting and the rise of a conservation movement aimed at ensuring bird species' long-term survival. He examines the distinctive forms produced in each major hunting area, from the Maritime Provinces of Canada to the Chesapeake Bay to the bayous of Louisiana and beyond. And, with a storyteller's gift for the entertaining anecdote, Shaw puts us in touch with the lives and circumstances of the decoy makers themselves.
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$19.95 $11.97 |
Installing, repairing or replacing doors and windows is within the reach of most serious Do-It-Yourselfers. McBride is a veteran carpenter and here he offers tips, shortcuts and advice on how to solve common challenges. He covers interior and exterior doors, new doors in old frames, fixing door problems, storm and screen doors, new windows, repairing windows, storm and screen windows, interior trim for doors and windows, and skylights. This is a book that will be of great value to the professional as well as the home handyman. REGULAR $19.95 OUR PRICE $15.95 YOU SAVE 20%
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$24.95 $14.97 |
In an era of mass production and disposable plastic, well-made wooden toys stand out every time: They’re simple, ageless, and just plain fun. The twenty projects in Classic Wooden Toys are smartly designed and built to last. They'll stand up to hard play and still look good when passed down from one generation to the next. Whether you’re looking for rugged toy trucks, delicate dollhouse furniture, or timeless bookshelves and toy chests designed to grow with your kids, Classic Wooden Toys is a reliable guide and helpful hand that walks you through the entire building process. The 20 projects inside Classic Wooden Toys include: •Imaginative Play -- Playtime Easel, Kid-Pleasing Rocking Pony, Marble Race, Rainbow Thrower, Scrapwood Wagon, Pendulum Doll Cradle, and a Doll High Chair •Trucks & More – Three-of-a-Kind Trucks, Front-End Loader, Toy Truck, Road Grader, Bulldozer, and Tug Boat •Pull-Toy Pals – Chomping Shark, Waddling Walrus, and Beaver •Toy Storage – Treasure Chest, Kid-Friendly Toy Box, and Pencil-Post Book Shelf
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$17.95 $14.95 |
Major home remodeling isnt for the faint of heart; there is huge potential for design problems, cost overruns, or just unsatisfactory workmanship. Here, a professional construction manager who masterminded the redesign at New Yorks famed Avery Fisher Hall as well as a massive institute-wide renovation of St. Lukes Hospital, offers an indispensable guide for homeowners who need to manage a large-scale renovation. Theres advice on how to articulate your thoughts clearly to designers, architects, and contractors; tips on negotiating contracts; suggestions for protecting yourself from legal and financial threats; and help understanding warranty claims. Each stepfrom initial planning through the completed projectis covered in laymans terms, and sample contracts, floor plans, cost estimating worksheets and other forms are provided.
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$25.95 $15.57 |
Professional carpenter Larry Haun shows all the techniques needed to frame a basic house, from laying the sills, to framing the roof. Fully illustrated with information on sitebuilt tools, permits, stairbuilding, tools, materials, task organization for stream-lining the job and more. See companion videos in section 22.
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$19.95 $11.97 |
This is a completely updated and revised edition. This has expanded infor- mation, new, full color photos, and updates on technological advances in finishing. The focus is on finishes that amateur woodworkers and finishers use. Included is good coverage on spray finishing and waterbased finishes as well as amusing "Finishing Tales" and a question and answer section.